CEDERBERG WILDERNESS AREA

Shorter walks – under 2 hours
Allow 50 minutes to get to Algeria Forest Station if you are staying in Clanwilliam or Citrusdal area; allow 1½ hours to get to Dwarsrivier …

Algeria Forest Station - valley walk
Note: This area was badly burnt in early 2009 but it is starting to recover
This a very pleasant gentle walk from Algeria up the valley towards Uitkyk. The path is clearly signposted from the end of the campsite. (When the path to the waterfall goes off to the left, you continue straight on to a grove of pine trees.) You can walk along the valley as far as you’d like and then return

Algeria Forest Station - waterfall Walk
This is a short, moderate climb from Algeria Forest Station up to Middelberg waterfall. The path is clearly signposted from the end of the campsite. When you are almost at the height of the waterfall, the path forks. You take the left hand fork to head to the waterfall where there are superb views of the valley and surrounding mountains, a small pool for paddling and secluded ledges for picnics. Allow one hour to get there and 50 minutes to return as well as time at the waterfall

If you take the right hand fork, the path continues further up the kloof eventually coming to one of the forestry huts, Middleburg Hut which is used by overnight hikers. You return down by the same path.

Algeria Forest Station - Uitkyk walk
Note: This area was badly burnt in early 2009 but it is starting to recover
This a very pleasant gentle walk from Algeria up the valley to Uitkyk Forestry house. The path is clearly signposted from the end of the campsite. (When the path to the waterfall goes off to the left, you continue straight on to a grove of pine trees.)  You walk all the way to Uitkyk (approx 3.5km) and then return along the road to make a circular walk. The circular walk would take approx 2 hours (7km).

Stadsaal Caves
There is plenty of walking and exploring on offer here. See separate panel

Morning walks  – 2-4 hours

Wolfberg Cracks (Dwarsrivier)
Drive to Dwarsrivier farm and continue for approx 1km and then turn left to Sandrif resort, cross over the river and continue via the signposts for approx 1km up a gravel track to a small parking place. This is a steep mountain walk with some easy scrambling at the top to get into the largest ‘crack’, a narrow cleft reaching 30m into the bowels of the Wolfberg. The walk should take you about 1½ hours to go up and 1 hour to return with additional time on the top exploring – less if you are fit.

Maltese Cross (Dwarsrivier)
Collect a permit from Dwarsrivier Farm and then follow their map to the start of the walk. (Drive for approx 0.7km in the direction of Clanwilliam, turn off to the left to follow the gravel road for approx 7km to a small parking place.) The path is very clear. It is a moderate uphill climb to the Maltese Cross with magnificent views of the Cederberg range and then a downhill return the same way. The cross is approx the height of a five storey building and begs the question of how on earth it got there! (In reality, the land and rock around it eroded away leaving this monolith behind.) The Maltese Cross takes about 3 hours including a break at the rock formation, allow 3½ to 4 hours if you take it slowly (7km).

Full Day Trails

Wolfberg Arch (Dwarsrivier)
Drive to Dwarsrivier farm and continue for approx 1km and then turn left to Sandrif resort, cross over the river and continue via the signposts for approx 1km up a gravel track to a small parking place. This is a steep mountain walk with some easy scrambling at the top to get into the largest ‘crack’, a narrow cleft reaching 30m into the bowels of the Wolfberg. The walk should take you about 1½ hours to go up. From here you continue along the top of the mountain range for about 1½ hours to the 15m-high Wolfberg Arch. It is best to return the way you came as the other route down, via Gabriel's Pass, is less well marked. Allow 7 to 8 hours for the walk though you may do it faster.

Note: You will need a map eg Cederberg map by Peter Slingsby, plenty of water, sunblock, comfortable shoes, hat and Cederberg Wilderness permit (as specified) obtainable from Algeria Forest Station or Dwarsrivier.
 

You will need to buy a permit, obtainable from Algeria Forest Station, Dwarsrivier farm or Mount Ceder.  If travelling from Clanwilliam or Citrusdal, take the day and stop to visit Algeria Forest Station, the Cederberg Cellars and perhaps enjoy a hike or swim in the river at Algeria…

How to get there – Take the central Cederberg road (approx 30km past Citrusdal) and travel past Algeria Forest Station over Uitkyk pass and onto Dwarsriver farm/Cederberg Cellars where you buy a permit. Continue on the road for 8km until you reach the Nature Conservation sign and sign right.
 

From here you can enjoy short valley walks through the pine forests, the 45min hike up to a beautiful waterfall or indeed longer hikes up to Middleberg and beyond. Why not make a day of it and visit other attractions in the Cederberg Wilderness area such as Stadsaal Caves, Cederberg Cellars & Lot’s Wife….

How to get there – Take the central Cederberg road (approx 30km past Citrusdal), take the low water bridge over the Oliphants river and travel up over the pass to Algeria Forest Station (approx 25 mins from the turnoff). Visitors staying in Clanwilliam can also take the road past the Clanwilliam Dam and turn left to travel in to Algeria. (50-60 mins in total). We recommend a circular drive using both roads. Please note that in winter & spring you should check with Algeria Forest Station (027 482 2403) that the low water bridge is passable as it can sometimes flood.
 

Boskloof Valley – as far as you like
This is not actually a trail, but a very quiet country road through beautiful scenery. We recommend that you drive part of the way and then simply walk along the road and back. The Boskloof valley has the Krakadouw mountains on one side and beautiful valley farmland on the other.

Heuningvlei Jeep track – as far as you like
Cederberg Wilderness Permit required
At the top of the Pakhuis Pass, there is a small turnoff to the right. Turn off here and park your car in the small car park. Take the trail from here through the gate and continue straight on. This is a well-marked trail through classic Cedarberg terrain with lovely views down to Karoo on your left. You can walk as far as you want and then turn back. (Eventually you would come to the small community of Heuningvlei after about 12km).

Morning walks – 2 to 4 hours

Sevilla Rock Art Trail
The Sevilla Rock Art Trail is on Travellers Rest farm about 30 minutes drive from Clanwilliam over the Pakhuis Pass. See our rock art pages for the full description.

Kliphuis Circular walk
Cederberg Wilderness Permit required
Just before the Pakhuis pass, park your car outside the Kliphuis campsite. The walk is a 3½ to 4 hour circular walk through pristine Cederberg fynbos. It is relatively gentle (as Cedarberg walks go!) The trail begins behind the old Forestry House and snakes up a kloof for approx 30 minutes. This is the only bit of steep walking. When you reach the top of the kloof, you come out onto a wide broad plateau with views to Kliphuis immediately on the right, the peaks of Faith, Hope and Charity on your far right hand side, and Ribbokberg immediately in front of you. The path veers around to the left. Most of the walk continues on this plateau with gradual ups and downs. The path is clearly marked in most places and there are stone cairns where the trail is over the open rock. Later in the walk, you descend next to a river (Kliphuisrivier), dry in summer, which has lovely waterfalls in winter. At this point, there’s a very pretty view of Lion’s Head, an escarpment of small peaks looking like lions gazing over the plains. Shortly after this the path turns to the left and you round the hill to return to the original valley. After the descent there is a slow gentle uphill section (tiring at this stage in the walk) back to the car park at Kliphuis. This section can be a little boggy in winter.

Pakhuis Pass to Kliphuis (3+ hours, ideally need two cars)
Cederberg Wilderness Permit required
This is a linear walk so ideally you need two cars (or someone who is prepared to walk the additional 3km to retrieve your car from Pakhuis Pass!) Park your car at the top of Pakhuis Pass (see above) and take the Heuningvlei Jeep track as above. After approx 1km, you will see a small cairn and a single file track to the right. (Watch out for this as it’s easy to miss – if you find yourself steadily climbing on the main track, then you have gone too far!)  Take this track as it crosses the vlei and then goes gently uphill (after another 1km) on to a second plateau area. Look out for a four way intersection in the trail. Turn right at the intersection and start to descend. It is rocky terrain here. Please be on the lookout for the stone cairns to guide you. You descend until you come to the river/stream. In the winter months you may need to take off your shoes to wade through the stream but in summer, it will be dry. Walk along the other side of the stream to Kliphuis campsite where you will have left one vehicle. Alternatively walk up the road to the summit again to retrieve your parked car.

Full day Hikes

Pakhuis to Heuningvlei
Cederberg Wilderness Permit required
This is not really a full day walk but it does take most of the day as you will need to return – either by donkey cart or by vehicle. At the top of the Pakhuis Pass, there is a small turnoff to the right. Park your car in the small car park. Take the trail from here through the gate and continue straight on. You walk to the small community of Heuningvlei (It is 12km if you take the short cut down the steep concrete path after about 11km. It is 15km if you continue on the path around the vlei to approach the village from the other side). At Heuningvlei, you can either return the way you came, arrange for one of your party to collect you by car or opt to book a lunch and donkey cart ride back to the Pakhuis Pass. Note: There is no shop at Heuningvlei so you will need to take provisions with you. Contact Cedarberg Travel for donkey cart bookings.

Pakhuis to Boskloof – linear walk (17km, allow 6-8 hours)
Cederberg Wilderness Permit required
This is one of the finest walks in the northern Cederberg. You leave your car at the top of the Pakhuis Pass at the small car park. Take the trail from here through the gate and continue straight on. After approx 1km, look out for a small cairn and a single file track to the right. Take this track as it crosses the vlei and then goes gently uphill (after another 1km) on to a second plateau area. Look out for a four way intersection in the trail. Turn left at the intersection. Now you start to head down into a beautiful valley. The path is fairly clear but keep a look out for cairns to help you.

After a while the steep descent levels off to a flatter section and you cross the river at some stepping stones. Be careful after winter rains! Immediately you have crossed the river, look out for the path through some vegetation on your left. This is the only area which is not clear. Keep left and look for the cairns and soon the path becomes clear again. Next follows a series of uphills and downhills through glorious unspoilt country.

Towards the end of the walk, the trail forks. The shorter steeper trail to the right brings you straight down the mountain to just above Krakadouw cottages. Not good if your knees are not strong! The longer trail is to the right. This takes you down more gently and brings you to the Anglo-Boer war block house. You cross the river and turn right at the intersection to pass the block house. Continue on this trail with the river on your right. This is approx 45-60 minutes walk from Krakadouw cottages and so will probably take 45mins longer in total. When you arrive at Krakadouw Cottages, please keep to the left of the vlei and do not approach the farmhouse as it is private property. You can leave your car on the road at the entrance to this farm.

This is a great walk BUT you will need either two cars (with one at the end of the walk) or to arrange for someone to collect you. Both Clanwilliam Living Landscapes and Cedarberg Travel can arrange transfers if needed.

Permits are available from Clanwilliam Information Office in Main Road.
 

Historically the Cederberg Wilderness offered walkers a stark choice – between taking day walks into the mountains (thus restricting them to more accessible shorter walks), or taking a pack and camping out in the very basic forestry huts. 

However the hiking trails of the Cederberg Heritage Route now make this beautiful area accessible to walkers via the use of charming community guest cottages in the Moravian Mission villages of Heuningvlei, Brugkraal and Wupperthal on the eastern side of the Cederberg Wilderness area and guesthouses in or near Clanwilliam on the western side. The trails are fully inclusive: you stay at comfortable community guesthouses in the picturesque Moravian mission villages, guided by local community guides with your overnight luggage taken to their next night’s stay.  

Most of the hiking/walking on the Cederberg Heritage Route Trails is not difficult and is suitable for regular walkers or people with a reasonable level of fitness. However, some optional hikes are more arduous to give keen walkers more of a challenge. You can contact Michelle at Cedarberg African Travel on 027 482 2444 or michelle@cedarberg.co.za
 

Today, the long-term survival of Cape Mountain leopards depends on their densities within protected areas such as the Cedarberg Wilderness. It is believed that there are many of this beautiful and elusive predator in the Cedarberg mountains but as they are so shy, signs of them are rarely found, let alone actual sightings. Reliable population estimates of the leopards are essential for effective conservation management and so the Trust aims to collar 12 leopards and keep track of their movements. See www.Capeleopard.org.za for more information.